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The 10 Best Uses For Mint (Tea And Lemonade Not Included)

Mint is one of those herbs that once planted, can literally take over your garden before you know it. Not that I have a garden. I don’t. But I have in the past and I know others who do. I am however quite skilled at perfecting the Manhattan window box o’ herbs. In any case, mint grows like wildfire and there are only so many ice-tea/lemonades you can drink. So, whether you’re the talented gardener, window boxer, or you’ve just watched it turn brown in the fridge one too many times, the question remains, just what can you do with all that mint?

The 10 Best Uses For Mint (Tea And Lemonade Not Included)

Use as a salad ingredient. Chop up a few leaves and add them to your salad. Mint adds great summery flare to salads with ginger, citrus, cilantro, beets, nuts, feta, grapes, or parsley.

Use in pesto. Toss a handful of mint in with your basil for an updated version of this summer classic.

Use for crostini. Pulse mint with sweet green peas, olive oil, Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper for a quick and easy crostini topping.

Use in a side dish. Mix mint into grain salads, such as tabouli, couscous, or faro. Add a handful to whole-wheat pasta salad or to roasted potatoes.

Add to chocolate. Whether mixed in with baked goods, candies, puddings or ice cream, the mint-chocolate combination is pretty much a match made in heaven. Next to peanut butter and chocolate of course.

Add to smoothies. Throw a few leaves into a pineapple, melon, or strawberry smoothie for a refreshing and energizing twist.

Make a sorbet. Use as a palette cleanser in between courses or to finish a meal as a cool way to prepare your taste buds for what’s next. Plus, you’ll impress family/friends.

Make a cocktail. Nothing says summer like a refreshing, minty cocktail. Muddle fresh mint leaves with agave nectar and lemon; add ice and rum, shake and top with club soda for a delicious mojito.

I love fresh mint torn and added to beets as a salad. You don’t need a lot of mint depending on how many beets you have maybe 3 -5 leaves. I add salt, pepper, olive oil and red wine vinegar, all to taste.

I’m using mint leaves now for a water flavorer to help detox my body & skin. I found a recipe where you mix: 1 gallon of water, 10 – 12 mint leaves, 1 small cucumber (sliced up), and a lemon (or 2 if you want, also sliced before thrown in). Refrigerate overnight and start drinking everyday. My friend said it sped up her metabolism so much that she had to start snacking once an hour to keep from getting shaky. She weighs probably 95 – 100 pounds though and loses weight easy. She was hoping to use it for skin detox, but she is too skinny. LOL Wish I had that problem.